Vince approached him, looking him straight in the eyes.

  - You learned, yes, but I'm not sure you understand. Directing is not only to have power. It’s knowing when using it and how to keep your position. If you show a moment of weakness, the vultures will devour you.

  Mason smiled, but an insecurity glow briefly passed through his eyes.

  Vince returned to her office, a richly decorated space, filled with cards and documents on his land. He took a pen and traced marks on a Silver Creek card.

  "This city is already largely me," he whispered. But there are still pockets of resistance.

  He looked at a name on the map: "Geovane". A cruel smile took shape on his lips.

  - This man and his lands will end up coming back to me, whether by persuasion ... or by force.

  He called one of his henchmen, a colossus named Hank, known for his total absence of scruples.

  - Hank, I want you to monitor this farmer and his children closely. Find their weaknesses, and bring me everything you discover.

  Hank nodded and left the room without a word.

  While Vince was contemplating the city from the window of his office, cold satisfaction filled his heart. He knew that his influence was only growing. For him, each challenge was only an opportunity to prove its superiority.

  But a part of him was wary of certain figures which began to stand out, in particular this archnid and his acolytes.In the darkness of the arachnid hideout, Grim had summoned his allies for an essential meeting. The air was loaded with tension, each murmur resonating between the dilapidated walls. Stanley, faithful to himself, was seated near Grim, observing the faces around the improvised table.

  This time, the group had widened. Alongside the founding members were Tom, the roommate of Stanley at the orphanage, Mike, an orphan who had always been present for Stanley in difficult times, as well as the twins Yvan and Eldryck, cunning orphans who knew how to make himself useful. Mélia, the only girl in the group, was also invited, arousing a mixed reaction.

  - Seriously, a girl? Ruma Lorry, launching an annoyed look at Mélia.

  Mélia frowned but kept silent, preferring to ignore the spike.

  Stanley, on the other hand, could not contain his annoyance.

  - Lorry, can you stop with your stupid comments? We are all there for the same reason.

  Lorry shrugged, a sly smile at the corner of the lips.

  - If you say, Stanley.

  Grim tapa with the fist on the table to bring calm back.

  - It's enough! If you are not able to work together, you might as well leave immediately.

  Around him, other allies stood ready to listen to: Gareth, the son of a farmer who had good connections in town, Amir, a teenager determined to make a name for himself, and Estevan, known for his skill to manipulate the information.

  Grim launched a circular look at his group before speaking.

  - We are here to talk about Vince Whitmore and his son, Mason. These types control a large part of Silver Creek. Their influence extends everywhere: farms, shops, even the sheriff seems to be under their boot.

  Mike nodded, his look dark.

  - I heard that Vince uses unscrupulous methods to keep his power. Some say that he has expelled whole families to enlarge his ranchs.

  Yvan, always quick to interact, added:

  - And Mason? This guy is just a arrogant rich kid, but he knows how to manipulate people.

  Lorry straightened up, visibly excited by the idea of ??confronting the Whitmore.

  -So, what are we waiting for? We will show them that they cannot control everything.

  Grim raised a hand to calm Lorry's ardor.

  - It's not that simple. Vince is dangerous, and you can't attack him head on. We have to find flaws, ways to weaken it without exposing ourselves.- What if we started with Mason? proposed Stanley. He's arrogant, but maybe we can turn his weaknesses against him.

  Mélia spoke for the first time.

  - We could observe his trips, see with whom he drags, where he is going. If you find something compromising, you could use it.

  Grim nodded.

  - Good idea. But it will require patience. You can't afford to make mistakes.

  The discussion continued, each member offering ideas and strategies. Despite the tensions, a fragile unit seemed to be formed. They knew that attacking Vince Whitmore and his empire would be a major challenge, but for once, they had the hope that, together, they could achieve it.Silver Creek, behind its dusty facades and its noisy streets, housed a strict social hierarchy, woven by years of economic domination and struggles for power. This structure, invisible in the eyes of newcomers, dictated each interaction, each opportunity, and each conflict.

  Grim and the members of the arachnids had gathered in their hideout to reflect on possible alliances, but also to understand the complex spectacker of the city. It was Stanley who, seated on a overturned box, had asked the question:

  - But basically, who controls what here?

  The dominant elite: the whitmore

  Tom spoke first, putting his cards on the table.

  - Vince Whitmore, he's the king of this lost hole. He has more ranchs than we can count, his herds extend as far as the eye can see, and he makes and defeated the rules of this city.

  - His son Mason, added Mike, is a reflection of his arrogance. But unlike Vince, Mason does not yet have the intelligence of her father. He is a little king without a crown.

  Grim frowned.

  - It's not just a matter of arrogance. Vince controls everything: farmers, traders, and even the sheriff's elections. He uses his power to crush anyone who dares to challenge him.

  Respected owners: Campbell

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  Mélia, attentive until then, intervened.

  - And the Campbell? Wayne and Cornelia are not the type to be walked on the feet.

  Stanley nodded.

  - Yes, but they don't have the same weight as Vince. They have their ranch, they work hard, and they are respected. But precisely, their independence makes them potential targets.

  - Targets? Lorry replied. Why would Vince attack them?

  Grim crossed his arms.

  - Because they don't depend on him. Vince hates that. He needs to control everything. If he sees the Campbell as a threat, he will find a way to kneel them.

  "Cornelia," said Gareth, "is known for its outspokenness. If she opposed Vince, she could become an ally ... or a victim.

  Workers and forgotten

  Amir spoke to evoke the lower class.

  - And where are we in all this? The workers, the farmers who rent their lands, the orphans like Stanley? We don't exist in the eyes of Vince. All he sees is labor to enrich his chests.It's true, said Eldryck. Vince uses everyone. And those who rebel finish ruined or worse.

  Grim raised a hand to calm the whispers that went up in the room.

  -Listen to me well. This hierarchy is there to crush us. Vince and its system do not want us to dream of a better future. But we will change that.

  The call to action

  A heavy silence fell on the room. Grim, the gaze fixed on his companions, continued.

  - What I want is that we understand the weaknesses of this structure. Campbell, they can be allies. Whitmore, they must be our targets. And all those who suffer in the shadows? They are the ones that we have to rally to our cause.

  Stanley, sitting next to Mike, murmured:

  - But how do we do that, Grim?

  Grim sketched an enigmatic smile.

  - We start by knocking where it hurts.

  Lorry, always skeptical, hausses an eyebrow.

  - What if we were crushed before you even started?

  Grim turned to him, his burning gaze of determination.

  - So we get up. And we start again. Until they understand that we are there to stay.

  The arachnids, inspired by his words, exchanged determined looks. A silent revolution was underway, and each of them knew that there was no more backwards.The hideout of the arachnids, a former hangar abandoned on the edge of Silver Creek, had become a sanctuary. Grim, in the center of the play, was granted to the group with passion. Around him, the members sitting on boxes and barrels, listening carefully. Stanley, faithful and thoughtful, opened from time to time. Lorry, back, drummed nervously on a box, while the new allies, Mike, Yvan, Eldryck, Amir, Estevan and Gareth, and Melia, observed Grim with special attention.

  But while they had their plans, two familiar silhouettes crossed the door of the hideout. It was Jessy and Alex.

  Grim frowned when he saw them.

  -What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be on the farm?

  Jessy haus her shoulders, a sly smile on his lips.

  - Out of service, chief. And you ? Do you still play the revolutionaries?

  The tension rose immediately. Jessy cast a circular look at the band, then burst out laughing.

  -Seriously, look at yourself. A bunch of kids, thinking of being able to change something. You are nothing in front of the system, nothing in front of guys like Vince Whitmore.

  Stanley straightened up, a glow of challenge in the eyes.

  - And you, what are you doing, Jessy? Working for Geovane while waiting for life to pass under your nose?

  Alex spoke, coldness in his voice.

  - At least, we don't dream of impossible. Your "Arachnids"? A joke. You will burn your wings.

  Jessy, approaching Grim, continued his acerbic monologue, his voice sharp like a blade.

  - And you, Grim? The visionary leader. Do you really think you could make Silver Creek tremble? Wake up. You have never controlled anything. Not your life, not your father, and surely not that bunch of idiots.

  The words resonated in the room like a thunderclap. Grim hired his fists, his red face of anger.

  - Be careful what you say, Jessy.

  But Jessy was not done. He was still approaching, a cruel smile on his lips.

  - Oh, I see. Do you hate that we are talking about your father, huh? This old madman who broke you. Admit, grim. You are unable to defend yourself. No wonder you are as pathetic.

  It was the drop of water. Grim, out of him, rushed to Jessy, grabbing him by the pass.

  - You will close your big mouth, Jessy!

  Jessy, experienced in the fight, dodged a blow of grim and gave him a hook of the right which sent him to the ground.

  - Do you want to play this? Very well, he replied, a carnivorous smile on the face.Grim got up, furious, and threw himself again on him, but Jessy, agile and used to fights, controlled him quickly, putting him on the ground in a few movements.

  - It's enough! Shouted Stanley, interposing, helped by Tom and Mike to separate the two fighters.

  Grim, the short and humiliated breath, stared at Jessy with a hatred that he had never felt before. Mélia advanced, cold anger in the voice.

  - You two, outside. NOW.

  Lory, by his side, added in an icy voice:

  -You have five seconds before I get you out myself.

  Jessy, dusting his clothes, launched a last look at Grim, a mocking smile on the lips.

  - Reflect well, "chef". You want to play in the big leagues, but you don't even have the build to be in the ring.

  Alex followed by Jessy, his arms crossed. But before crossing the door, Jessy threw a last spike:

  - And advice: Stop dreaming. It hurts you when everything is collapsing.

  The silence fell into the hideout, heavy and oppressive. Grim, still on the ground, got up with the help of Stanley.

  -Let them say, murmured Stanley. You know what you are worth, Grim.

  But Grim, tight jaws, stared at the empty entrance to the hideout, his bubbling spirit.

  -They will pay for that, he said in a cold voice.

  The band remained silent. Everyone understood that this moment was not only a humiliation for Grim, but a brutal recall of the challenges and tensions that awaited them in their quest to overthrow the established order. Jessy and Alex had sowed doubts in certain minds, but for Grim, this confrontation only strengthened his determination.The light of the moon penetrated weakly into the hideout of the arachnids. The atmosphere, usually charged with camaraderie and energy, was today tinged with tension. Grim, seated on an old wooden body, stared at the dusty floor, lost in his thoughts.

  Stanley, Tom, and Mike had stayed by his side, taking care not to put him in pressure. Lorry, on the other hand, took care of repairing a broken lamp, while Mélia chatted in a low voice with the twins Yvan and Eldryck. All had felt the impact of the confrontation with Jessy and Alex, but it was Grim who wore the heaviest weight.

  Jessy's weight of words

  Grim hired his fists, thinking about Jessy's poisonous lyrics:

  "You are only an incapable dreamer, a broken son of a violent father."

  These words curled up in his mind, intertwining with the memories of his father shouting after him, his incessant reproaches, and those looks full of contempt that he had to endure every day. Grim felt anger rose, but this time she was not just heading for Jessy.

  Stanley, who observed Grim with concern, broke the silence:

  - Grim, you can't let what he said defined. We all know why we are here, and it's thanks to you.

  Grim looked up at him, his dark gaze betraying an inner struggle.

  -Maybe he's right, whispered Grim. Maybe I'm not made for that ... that I'm not strong enough to direct.

  Tom, hitherto silent, intervened:

  - If you weren't strong, we wouldn't all be here, Grim. You gave us a reason to believe that we can change things. This is not weakness.

  Doubt and shadow of the past

  Despite the encouragement of his friends, Grim was haunted by the memories of his childhood. His father's violence, his ruthless orders, and this feeling of being trapped in an invisible cage.

  Mélia, approached gently.

  - Grim, you grew up in a hard environment, but you are here, today, fighting for something bigger. This is what makes you a leader.

  Grim sketched a slight smile, but the pain persisted.

  -You don't understand, he said. Whenever I raise my voice, impose myself, I hear ... Him. My father. What if I become like him? If I end up destroying everything we try to build?

  Stanley put a firm hand on Grim's shoulder.

  - Listen, grim. We are not here to follow a perfect leader. We are here to follow a friend, someone we respect and who has the courage to stand up against injustice. YouIsn't your father.

  These words touched Grim in the heart. He closed his eyes for a moment, deeply inspired. Maybe Stanley was right. Perhaps his scars were precisely what made him a better leader.

  A silent oath

  After a long silence, Grim straightened up and looked at each member of his group.

  - We have a lot to do, and I'm not going to leave someone like Jessy or Whitmore stop. We are going to fight, together, and we will show them that we are not just a band of kids.

  His words, although simple, bore a new determination.

  Mélia nodded, a proud smile on her lips.

  - This is the grim we know.

  A shadow on the city

  While everyone returned to their occupations, Grim stood alone at the entrance to the hideout, looking at the city of Silver Creek below. He knew that this night was a turning point this night.

  In his heart, he made a silent oath:

  "I'm not my father. I'm Grim Williams, and I'm going to change this city, no matter the price."